Mamiko Ikeda - "Dolphin's Dream"

When I was small, l liked to make stories, draw pictures, and even compose music in my own fun way.  Those are the ones I devoted my time to, which seemed to be endless back then.  Now in the information technology age, I have learned how to combine my favorite things by creating motion pictures.

I grew up practicing Japanese calligraphy with my mother, a master calligrapher who had her own private calligraphy school in Japan.  I had a tough time sitting still and practicing the same characters again and again with patience, but then I learned that “persistence pays off.” At late-teen, I had some other interests and went away from the strict calligraphy school for a while.  Now looking back from a long distance, I truly appreciate what my mother has taught me, as I have been teaching it in the States.

For the “One Sheet-Music” exhibit, I used Japanese calligraphy and collage.  As a process of working on this project, I made a piece of motion pictures in which I played Sanshin, an Okinawan three string instrument. Traditional Sanshin music scores are written with kanji characters, and I wrote the music score of my tune and the lyrics with Japanese calligraphy. Please watch my art & music video as a part of the project. Thank you.

Dolphin’s Dream

(Lyrics in English)

looking out the window

snow is falling

…quietly…

time is passing by

looking out the window

floating thoughts

are

now

quietly landing

Music, Lyrics, Acoustic Guitar, Okinawa Sanshin, Native American Flute & Vocals by Mamiko Ikeda

Inspired by Homare Ikeda's Hum